Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has tapped Betty Sapp to be the next National Reconnaissance Office director, succeeding Bruce Carlson, who has guided the organization since June 2009. The Pentagon notified congressional defense overseers on April 20 that Panetta, with the concurrence of Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, had selected Sapp for the leadership role. She’s been NRO’s principal deputy director since April 2009. NRO develops, acquires, and operates the nation’s classified reconnaissance satellites.
The Air Force’s Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile is behind schedule and may significantly overrun its expected cost, which could partially explain why the service is reviving the hypersonic AGM-183 Air-Launched Rapid-Response Weapon.